Where Islam spreads, freedom dies

Ahmet Hamidi, vice-president of the Islamic Faith Community in Austria (Islamischen Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich - IGGiÖ), has resigned his office after a furore provoked by a remark he made in Vienna last week. In a discussion which focused on complaints from Muslim parents about their daughters' sport lessons in schools, Hamidi said that "too much sport is not good for the female organism".

The remark sparked outrage and ended with Hamidi voluntarily choosing to leave his post as vice-president of the IGGiÖ. Hamidi has other significant positions, too, though. He is an inspector of religious instruction in state schools and a practising doctor with his own surgery in Vienna.

The State Medical Council declared that there was "no scientific evidence" to support his opinions and consideration is now being given to initiating a professional disciplinary procedure against him. Some members of the Vienna Inspectorate of Schools are also calling for him to resign his position there.Source